Course: Practicum 1a

Code: EPC 1403

Observation Task 9: Activities in

ONE specialist class

Prepared by: Hend Saeed Alyammahi

ID: H00357629
Prepared to: Ms. Hamada Al-awadi
Date of submission: Monday June 25, 2018
 Observation Task 9: Activities in ONE specialist class
Focus: Learner activities
Procedure:
1. Go to ONE specialist class (e.g. ICT, PE, Islamic, special needs) and stay for the
entire class with one group of students.
2. Ask the teacher what special skills /training she needs.
3. Observe the activities, on the table below, record what the learners are engaged
in.

Teacher
Activity Individual/group/class Purpose directed/child’s
choice
Frog jumping as a To teams (boy and girls) To strengthen the lower Teacher directed
team. part of the body (legs). To
teach them collaboration
and waiting for others to
complete the task
successfully.
Throwing the rings Individually It will help them to focus Teacher directed
in the cone. on the target and estimate
the distance between them
and the cone. To build up
their arm muscles.
Grouping in pairs, Group and pairs To measure and how quick Teacher directed and
threes or fours. they can response to the students’ choice
instructions.

Crunches/ Curls Pairs To strengthen and build Teacher directed

the muscles of the stomach
(middle part of the body).
Stretching Pairs To prepare the body and Teacher directed
minimize the stress of the
muscles.

Puch-ups Pairs To build the muscles of the Teacher directed

arms.
Frog jumping Individually To strengthen their leg and Teacher directed
waist muscles.
Running forward Individually To strengthen the blood Teacher directed
and backward cycle and the heart
muscles.
Move, stop and find Individually/ whole class To quicken their response Teacher directed
a spot and the ability to move
from one action to
another.
Half-twist jump Individually To build both the legs and Teacher directed
the waist muscles.
Tic Tac Toe Two teams Balance between the Teacher directed
thinking and the body
action.

Reflection
1. How often do the children attend this class?

Physical Education (PE) classes usually take a place once or twice a week just like the
other Special classes (ICT or Music). In my opinion, in these class they get less input that
the main subjects. However, they are important for the students’ interest and health.

2. What kind of learning tasks place and why is it considered important?

Beside improving the physical and fitness part of the students. They learn certain
vocabulary that is related to the Physical Education. They learn descriptive words for the
actions and the exercise they do. Also, they learn some scientific vocabulary when the
teacher describes the purpose of each activity and how it is useful for their health. This
is to enrich their general information and to make them aware of the importance of the
Physical Education to their health.

3. What special skills /training does the teacher need?

The teachers of the Physical Education usually have high faintness qualities. Also, they
must have the skills to play different types of games (soccer, volley-ball, and basketball)
so they can teach them to the pupils. Moreover, they must have a soled background
knowledge about the purpose of each exercise they involve the students in. This is to
rise the students’ awareness about the importance of the Physical Education. Finally,
they must have a license of the first-aid practice because, some emergency situations
happened during their lesson that they must be ready for it (like drowning in the pool or
heart attacks).
 4. What special equipment/facilities/resources are needed?

Every exercise in the PE Lesson has its own equipment and facilities. For instance, the
fitness activities usually involve having mats, rings, cones, ropes, and sand bags. On the
other hand, some games like soccer, and basketball need different types of balls. All the
previous take place in the sport hall or playground. Furthermore, there are the
swimming pool, dressing rooms, or the gym as other facilities. Finally, the teacher uses
specific equipment to mentor the students like: whistle, stopwatch, and record sheets.

5. Ask a child what they enjoy about this class. Ask them what they learn?

Students enjoy PE classes because they have the free to move and play. In my opinion
this class joys come from the less input that the students have to learn and the exciting
activities that they play. Moreover, the amount of challenge in this class is higher than
the other classes where we see many competitions between two teams, groups and
even individuals. Finally, the students learn to have the sportsmanship and to not take
the challenges very seriously.

6. Do you notice any special techniques that the teacher uses?

I liked when the teacher mentors the students with his whistle. That was a good
technique to save time and energy and it gives the students a strong sound clue when to
move or stop so all the students can hear it.

7. Does the teacher use strategies which are different from their main teacher?

Usually teacher in the classrooms relay the most on gestures and body clues to control
the behavior. But, the PE teacher use the sound clue (whistle) to manage the students.
However, it looks like the PE teacher follow specific routines with the learners that’s
why they looked very focused and they knew what to do. Classroom teacher promote
using routines to avoid misbehavior and time wasting.

8. What did you enjoy about the lesson?

I liked how the students were focused and totally involved in the activities. The variety
of the exercises covered both the physical and mental practice. Furthermore, the lesson
was totally student-centered rather than a teacher-centered. The equipment was used
effectively to enhance learning. The students seemed very excited and powerful
through all the activities. Finally, I believe PE classes create learners who are physically
and mentally healthy. Also, they give the students a good break from the other classical
and boring classes.